Anti-aircraft missile system "OCA"

The experience of operating the first anti-aircraft guns accumulated by the end of the 1950s missile complexes (air defense missile systems) accepted for supply to the Troops Defense Ground forces, showed that they had a number of significant shortcomings, making them unsuitable for use as mobile means of cover during maneuverable combat operations. For these purposes, fundamentally different systems were required, possessing a high degree of autonomy and mobility, capable of covering both stationary and mobile objects from air strikes.

The first among such complexes were the Krug long-range air defense systems and the Cube medium-range air defense systems, which organically entered the organizational structure of the defended troops. The long-range air defense system was assigned the task of defending the most important facilities at the front and army levels, and the medium-range air defense system was assigned to provide air defense tank divisions.

In turn, for direct cover of motorized rifle divisions and regiments, it was necessary artillery and short-range missile systems, the zones of destruction of which had to correspond to the organizational structure established in the Soviet Army and be determined based on the need to cover the width of the front and the depth of the combat lines of the defending unit during its actions in defense or attack.

A similar evolution of views was characteristic in those years for foreign developers of anti-aircraft guns.
kets funds that came in the middle of 1950's. to the need to develop self-propelled short-range air defense systems. The first of these was to be the American Mauler, designed to repel attacks of low-flying aircraft, as well as unguided and guided tactical missiles with EPR to 0,1 m2.
The requirements for the Mauler complex were put forward in 1956, taking into account the scientific and technological breakthroughs in the field of electronic and rocket technology held by that time. It was assumed that all the means of this air defense system would be placed on the base of the tracked armored personnel carrier Ml 13: a launcher with 12 missiles in containers, target detection and fire control equipment, radar antennas of the guidance system and power plant. The total weight of the air defense missile system was to be about 11 t, which made it possible to transport it on transport aircraft and helicopters.

It was planned to begin deliveries of the new air defense system to the troops in 1963, while the total release was to make 538 complexes and 17180 missiles. However, already at the initial stages of development and testing, it became clear that the initial requirements for the Mauler air defense system were put forward with excessive optimism. Thus, according to preliminary estimates, a single-stage missile with a semi-active radar homing head created for the SAM system should have a range of up to 40 kg (weight of the warhead -4,5 kg) with a starting mass of up to 10 km and maneuvers with overloads up to 3,2 units The performance of such characteristics was significantly ahead of the capabilities of that time by about 30-25 years.

As a result, the development of a promising air defense system, which was attended by leading US firms Convair, General Electric, Sperry and Martin, immediately began to fall behind the target dates and was accompanied by a gradual decrease in expected performance. So, it soon became clear that in order to obtain the required effectiveness of hitting ballistic missiles, the mass of the missile defense system must be increased to 9,1 kg.

In turn, this led to the fact that the mass of the rocket increased to 55 kg, and their number on the launcher decreased to nine.

Ultimately, in July 1965, after 93 launches were completed at the White Sands training ground and more than $ 200 million was spent, Mauler was abandoned in favor of implementing more pragmatic air defense programs based on the use of aviation Sidewinder guided missiles, automatic anti-aircraft guns and the results of similar developments carried out by Western European firms.

The first among them, back in April 1958, was the British company Short, which, based on the research carried out to replace anti-aircraft guns on small ships, began work on the Seacat rocket, which had a range of up to 5 km. This rocket was supposed to be part of a compact, cheap and relatively simple air defense system. The need for it was so great that already at the beginning of 1959, without waiting for the start of mass production, Seacat adopted the ships of Great Britain, and then Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and a number of other countries. In parallel with the ship version, the ground version of the system with 62-kg Tigercat missile (with a flight speed of no more than 200-250 m / s) was developed on tracked or wheeled armored personnel carriers, as well as on trailers. For several decades, Tigercat systems have been in service in more than 10 countries.

In turn, the British firm British Aircraft began work in 1963 on the creation of an air defense system ET 316, later designated Rapier. However, its characteristics in almost all parameters were significantly lower than those expected for Mauler.

Today, several decades later, it should be recognized that in the correspondence competition held in those years, the ideas embodied in Mauler turned out to be most realized in the Soviet OSR “Osa”, although its development was very dramatic, accompanied by replacement as leaders and developers of its elements.

XMIM-46A Mauler Prototype Fighting Vehicle

Seacat shipboard SAM and Tigercat ground

Beginning of work

The decision to develop a simple and cheap short-range air defense missile system to protect against air strikes of motorized rifle divisions was made almost immediately after the design of the Krut and Cube air defense systems began in 1958. Consideration of the creation of such a complex was asked 9 released on February 1959.
Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR
No. 138-61 "On the development of air defense of the Ground Forces, naval ships and ships of the Sea fleet».

A year later, on February 10 1960, a letter was signed to the USSR Council of Ministers, signed by Minister of Defense R. Ya. Malinovsky, chairmen: GKRE - V.D. Kalmykov, GKAT - P.V. Dementiev, GKOT -K.N. Rudnev, shipbuilding company - B.E. Butoma and Minister of the Navy VG Bakayev, with proposals for the development of military and naval simplified small-sized autonomous air defense systems "Osa" and "Osa-M" with a unified rocket, designed to hit low-flying air targets at speeds up to 500 m / s.

In accordance with these proposals, the new air defense missile system was intended for air defense of troops and their objects in combat formations of a motorized rifle division in various forms of combat, as well as on the march. The main requirements for this complex were complete autonomy, which was to be ensured by the location of all the combat means of the air defense missile system on one self-propelled floating wheel chassis, and the possibility of detecting in motion and damage from short stops suddenly appearing from any direction low-flying targets.

The first studies of the new complex, which at the initial stage had the designation “Ellipse” (continuing the series of geometric symbols given by the military air defense system, launched by the “Circle” and “Cube”), showed the fundamental possibility of its creation. The complex was supposed to include an autonomous control system, missile ammunition required for hitting 2-3 targets, a launching device, as well as communications, navigation and topo-linkage, computing facilities, controls and power sources. These elements were to be placed on one machine, which could be transported by An-12 aircraft with full ammunition, refueling and a crew of three. The facilities of the complex were to detect targets in motion (at speeds up to 25 km / h) and to ensure the launch of 60-65 kg rockets from short stops, with a probability of hitting the target with a single missile up to 50-70%. At the same time, the defeat zone of air targets, having dimensions comparable to those of the MiG-19 fighter and flying at speeds up to 300 m / s, should have been: in range - from 800-1000 m to 6000 m, in height - from 50- 100 m to 3000 m, by parameter - to 3000 m.
The general developer of both complexes (military and naval) was supposed to appoint the Scientific-Research Institute-20 GKRE. At the same time, the scientific research institute-20 was to become the main contractor for the military version of the air defense system as a whole, as well as its radio receiving complex.

Launch of anti-aircraft missile ZRK Rapier

The creation of a troop self-propelled with a cabin, a starting device and a power supply system was planned to be entrusted to the MSW by the Mosoblsnarho-za. The design of a unified rocket, as well as a launching device, was to be headed by the plant №82 Mosoblovnarhoz; single multipurpose rocket unit -
A.V. Trampled.

SRI-131 GKRE; steering gears and gyros - factory number 118 GKAT. A few months later, the GKAT leadership also proposed including the NII-125 GKOT (development of a solid fuel charge) rocket developers, and it was proposed to engage GKRE organizations in autopilot elements.

It was planned to begin work in the first quarter of 1960 in the first quarter. The first year was devoted to the implementation of an advance project, the second to the preparation of a technical project, tests of experimental air defense missile systems and guided missile launches. On 1962-1963 production and transfer of prototypes of the complex to state tests were planned.

In the final version of the decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, which was prepared by mid-September 1960 and released on October 27 under the number 1157-487, the Osa designation was approved after the complex and determined much higher characteristics - apparently, to give developers additional incentive. In particular, the slant range of the air defense missile system was increased to 8-10 km with the exchange rate parameter to 4-5 km, and the altitude of combat use - to 5 km. The mass of the rocket has not undergone any correction, and the previously scheduled development dates have been shifted by only one quarter.

As head performers, the following were assigned: for the Osa and Osa-M complexes as a whole - NII-20, for the rocket - KB-82, for a single multifunctional unit - NII-20 together with OKB-668 GKRE, for the launch device - SKB-203 Sverdlovsk SNH.

The main designers were appointed: for the complex - V.M. Tara-novsky (he was soon replaced by MM Kocichkin, who had a wealth of experience in developing small-scale ASM for mobile artillery systems), by rocket - A.V. Trampled.

Particular attention in the approved resolution was paid to the question of choosing a base for a self-propelled unit, which was supposed to use one of the light armored vehicles developed in those years.

It should be noted that at the end of 1950's. The development on a competitive basis of new armored wheeled vehicles and universal wheeled chassis began at car factories in Moscow (ZIL-153), Gorky (GAZ-49), Kutaisi (“1015 Object”), as well as at the Mytishchi Machine-Building Plant (“560 Object” and “560U Object”). Ultimately, the Gorky Design Bureau won a victory in the competition. The BTR developed here was the most mobile, reliable, comfortable, and also technologically sophisticated and relatively inexpensive.
However, these qualities for the new air defense system was not enough. At the beginning of 1961, the city of Gorky refused to participate further in the work on the Osa because of the insufficient carrying capacity of the BTR-60P. Soon for a similar reason, the ZIL design bureau also departed from this topic. As a result, the creation of a self-propelled gun for “Wasp” was entrusted to a team of SCR of the Kutaisi Automobile Plant of the Sovnarkhoz of the Georgian SSR, who designed together with specialists from the Moscow Military Academy of armored and mechanized troops of the 1040 Object (based on the experienced 1015B Object).

"560 Object"

"560U Object"

It should be noted that the preliminary design of the 1015 Object, a wheeled (8x8) floating armored personnel carrier with aft location of the engine installation, an N-shaped mechanical transmission and independent suspension of all wheels, was carried out during the 1954-1957 period. at the Academy under the direction of G. V. Zimelev by employees of one of the departments and research departments of the Academy G. Arzhanuhin, A.P. Stepanov, A.I. Mamleev and others. From the end of 1958, in accordance with a decree of the USSR Council of Ministers, this work involved the hard currency of the Kutaisi Automobile Plant, which at the end of 1950, the beginning of 1960, was. consistently led by MA Ryzhik, D.L. Kartwe-deprived and SM. Batiashvili. Later in Kutaisi, several prototypes of an improved armored personnel carrier were built, designated as “1015B Object”.

The enthusiasm with which the designers of “Wasps” set to work was characteristic of that time and was based on many important points. The implication was that the new development will be based on the experience of the Circle. In addition, the industry had already mastered the production of over 30 types of transistors and semiconductor diodes for various purposes. It was on this basis that Osa managed to create a transistor operational amplifier, which was almost not inferior to the widely known tube lamp RU-1 in those years. As a result, it was decided to produce an invoice-decisive device (PSA) for
The chassis "Object 1040", designed to accommodate elements of the air defense system "Osa".

"Wasps" on transistors. Moreover, if the original version of the PSA contained about 200 operational amplifiers, then in the future they were able to reduce their number to 60. At the same time, the difficulty of achieving a number of characteristics set for the "Wasp" led to the fact that serious objective difficulties arose already in the first stages.
The specifics of the OSA air defense system — small flight altitude of targets, short time spent on processing and defeating targets, autonomy and mobility of the complex — made it necessary to search for new technical solutions and paths. Thus, the features of the air defense system required the use in its structure of multi-functional antennas with high values ​​of output parameters; antennas capable of moving the beam to any point of a given spatial sector in a time not exceeding fractions of a second.

As a result, under the direction of V.M. Taranovsky in NII-20 a project was prepared that included using the new air defense system as a means of detecting and tracking radar targets with a phased antenna array (PAR) instead of the traditional mechanically rotating antenna.

A few years before, in 1958, a similar attempt was made by the Americans to create an SPG-59 radar with a PAR for ship-borne Tayfun air defense system, the structure of which included a radar capable of simultaneously performing fire control and target illumination tasks. However, the studies that had just begun faced with problems associated with an insufficient level of development of science and technology, as well as with a high level of electricity consumption due to the presence of vacuum tubes. An important factor was the high cost of products. As a result, despite all the attempts and tricks, the antennas turned out to be cumbersome, heavy and excessively expensive. In December, the 1963 project "Typhoon" was closed. The idea of ​​installing the PAR on the Mauler SAM system was not developed either.

Similar problems did not allow to bring to any significant results the development of radar with PAR in Osa. But a much more alarming signal was that already at the stage of launching the preliminary design of the air defense missile system, the disconnection of indicators of the main elements of the rocket and the complex created by various organizations was revealed. At the same time, the presence of a large “dead zone” in the air defense missile system, which was a cone with a radius of 14 km and a height of 5 km, became apparent.

Trying to find a way out, the designers began to gradually abandon the most advanced, but not yet provided with an appropriate production base of technical solutions.

The unified rocket 9МЗЗ was occupied by the design bureau of the plant №82 headed by A.V. Potopalov and lead designer MG Olya At the start of the 1950-xMT. This plant was among the first to master the production developed by the team of S.A. Lavochkin anti-aircraft missiles for the C-25 system, and in KB-82 conducted a series of measures to improve them. However, their own projects KB-82 pursued failures. In July, the X-NUMX of KB-1959 was removed from work on the B-82 rocket for the C-625 air defense complex - they were entrusted to the more experienced team of the OKB-125 PD. Grushin, who proposed the variant of the unified rocket B-2.

This time, KB-82 was instructed to create a rocket, the mass of which would not exceed 60-65 kg and had a length of 2,25-2,65 m. In view of the need to achieve extremely high performance, a number of promising solutions were made for the new SAM. So, it was proposed to equip it with a semi-active radar homing, which could provide high accuracy of missile guidance at the target and its effective defeat with a warhead of 9,5 kg. The next step was the creation of a single multi-functional unit, which consisted of the GOS, autopilot, fuse and power source. According to preliminary estimates, the mass of such a block should have been no more than 14 kg. In order not to go beyond the limit values ​​of the mass of the rocket, the propulsion system and control system were to be entered in the remaining 40 kg designers.

However, at the initial stage of work, the limit on the mass of the multifunctional unit was almost doubled by the developers of the equipment — it reached 27 kg. Soon, the unreality of the propulsion characteristics of the propulsion system incorporated in the rocket design became apparent. In a solid-fuel engine designed by KB-2 of plant No. 81, it was planned to use a charge with a total mass of 31,3 kg, consisting of two solid-fuel checkers (starting and marching). But the composition of the mixed solid fuel used for this charge showed significantly lower (almost r #)% energy characteristics, ".

In search of a solution in KB-82, they took up the design of their own engine. It should be noted that in this organization back in 1956-1957. developed propulsion systems for the B-625 rocket and the level of engine-sheet constructors working here was quite high. For the new engine, it was proposed to use a mixed solid fuel developed in GIPH, whose characteristics were close to the required ones. But it was not possible to bring this work to completion.

Faced with a number of problems and designers self-propelled installation. By the time it entered the tests, it became clear that the mass of the self-propelled device also exceeded the accepted limits. In accordance with the project, the “1040 Object” had a load capacity of 3,5 t, and for placing the Osa air defense system on it, the mass of which, according to the most optimistic expectations, was to be at least 4,3 t (and according to the pessimistic –6t), the exclusion of machine gun weapons and the transition to the use of a light diesel engine with power 180 hp instead of the engine used on the prototype in the 220 hp

All this led to the fact that among the developers of the air defense system, a struggle was launched for every kilogram. In September, 1962 was announced a competition at SRI-20, under which conditions the premium in 1 rubles was used for reducing the mass of the complex by 200 kg, and in case of revealing reserves in the onboard equipment of the missile, for every 100 gram was assumed 100 rubles.

L.P. Kravchuk, Deputy Director for Pilot Production at Scientific Research Institute-20, recalled: “All the shops worked hard on the production of the prototype in the shortest possible time, if necessary, worked in two shifts, and overtime was used. Another problem arose because of the need to reduce the weight of the Wasp. About two hundred body parts had to be cast from magnesium instead of aluminum. Not only the modified kits as a result of the repackaging, but also the existing tooling kits had to be cast again due to the difference in shrinkage of aluminum and magnesium. Magnesium castings and large models were placed at the Balashikha Metallurgical and Mechanical Plant, and most of the models had to be placed throughout the Moscow region, even in state farms, where there were teams of old masters who had previously worked at aviation factories, because no one took to large number of models. Our capabilities were more than modest, we had only six modelers. These models cost a decent amount - the price of each kit corresponds to the cost of a polished cabinet. Everyone understood how expensive it was, but there was no way out; they deliberately went for it. ”
Despite the fact that the competition continued until February of 1968, many of the tasks that were set remained unresolved.

The result of the first failures was the decision of the Commission of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on military-industrial issues, in accordance with which the developers released an addendum to the draft design. It stipulated the use of radio command missile guidance at a target, reduced the size of the zone of destruction in range (to 7,7 km) and the speed of the targets hit. The rocket presented in this document had a length of 2,65 m, a diameter of 0,16 m, and the mass reached the upper limit - 65 kg, with a mass of warhead 10,7 kg.

V1962 was prepared technical design of the complex, but most of the work was still at the stage of experimental laboratory testing of the main systems. In the same year, SRI-20 and the 368 plant, instead of 67, produced only seven onboard equipment sets; at a given time (Q3 1962), the research institute-20 was also able to prepare a PAC prototype for testing.

By the end of 1963 (at this point, the initial plans provided for the completion of all work on the creation of air defense missile systems) only a few launches of non-standard missile models were completed. Only in recent months, 1963 managed to carry out four autonomous launch of missiles with a full set of equipment. However, only one was successful.

To be continued